OzAsia Festival

OzAsia Review: Water Pushes Sand

Few words can do justice to the magnificence that was the premier of Water Pushes Sand.

Presented by Australian Art Orchestra
Reviewed 3 October 2015

Few words can do justice to the magnificence that was the premier of Water Pushes Sand. Australian Art Orchestra associate, Eric Griswold, composed and conducted a jazz/Sichuan fusion suite that blurred lines without making a mess.

Traditional, Sichuan instrumentalists worked alongside some of Australia’s best jazz musicians, including the orchestra’s leader, Peter Knight, on trumpet. The back screen was used, but not over-used, for visuals, and there was the occasional spoken narrative from Griswold himself, who also played superb piano.

The suite opened with Joy at Sunrise, beginning with outstanding percussive work from Vanessa Tomlinson and Zhong Kai Zhi, which set the atmosphere for the whole evening. Here Come the Waves, saw a parade of instrumentalists work their way through the audience, leading into Rivers of Bicycles, which was as much a soundscape as a piece of music. Forgotten Streets featured a wonderful solo on the gu zheng (Chinese zither), from Zhou Tao Tao, whose playing throughout was impassioned and impeccable.

The next four pieces moved through contemporary jazz, traditional Sichuan chants and a little touch of bop, until the grand finale, Changing Faces. Singer Zheng Sheng Li, transformed into a dancer/magician for a bian lian performance. His ability to change masks before our eyes drew appreciative ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the audience, while the lyrical music continued to underscore.

This is edgy work. This is not everyone’s cup of tea. But make no mistake: this is genius.

Reviewed by Tracey Korsten

Twitter: @Tracey Korsten

Water Pushes Sand played the 2nd and 3rd of October at The Space.

 

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